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© USAF


















        GROWING PARTNERSHIP






        The maiden participation of USAF B-1B Bombers in the Cope India
        exercises is testament to the evolution of Indo-U.S. defence ties

        - By Atul Chandra
             he sixth edition of the Cope India series of  USAF inventory and is the backbone of its long-range bomber force.
             training exercises between India and the  An Indian MoD spokesperson said the joint exercises provided valu-
        T USA featured the maiden participation  able opportunity for the participants of all countries to exchange
        of United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B ‘Lancer’  ideas and imbibe best practices through interactions, exchanges
        strategic bombers on Indian soil. The incorpora-  and combined missions.
        tion of the B-1B into the training exercise marks
        another instance of growing Indo-U.S. defence  The Indian Air Force (IAF) already operates four American military
        ties. “Cope India provides a unique opportunity  aircraft in the Boeing C-17, AH-64E, CH-47D and Lockheed Martin
        to promote compatibility among our forces and  C-130J, in addition to operating Boeing 777s, 737s in the VIP trans-
        build on our collective strengths to increase our  port role.
        capabilities,” said Col. Biren Oberoi, Cope India
        2023 U.S. Exercise Director. The Cope India series   Training Together
        of exercises are a long-standing U.S. Pacific Air   Cope India-2023 was held in two stages, with the first stage taking
        Forces-sponsored field training exercise that   place at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh) and Agra. This
        builds on existing capabilities, aircrew tactics   phase of the exercise focussed on air mobility and involved transport
        and force employment beween the USAF and     aircraft and Special Forces assets from both sides, who fielded their
        IAF.
                                                     C-130Js and C-17s, with the USAF operating an MC-130J as well.
                                                     This phase of the exercise included the presence of JASDF aircrew,
        Growing in Scope                             who participated in the capacity of observers.
        Cope India-2023 was held across three Indian
        Air Force stations - Kalaikunda, Panagarh and  The second phase of the exercises, which took place at Air Force
        Agra, with the B-1Bs operating from the former.  Station Kalaikunda involved the participation of USAF B-1B bomb-
        The Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) par-  ers, whose F-15 aircraft joined subsequently. The IAF fighters were
        ticipated in the exercise by sending observers.  supported by air force IL-78 aerial refuellers and AWACS aircraft.
        Over the course of the two-week long exercises,  Both phases of the exercise included the presence of JASDF aircrew,
        the IAF fielded its Dassault Rafale F3-R, Tejas  who participated in the capacity of observers. This year’s exercises
        Mk-1, Sukhoi SU-30MKI, Sepecat Jaguar, C-17  were the largest Cope India exercises ever, with specific training
        and C-130s, while the USAF brought F-15 Strike  to increase cooperation alongside IAF airmen during the exercise.
        Eagles, C-130, MC-130J, C-17 and a pair of B-1B
        Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, to the  The Cope India series of bilateral air exercises began in 2004 as
        exercises.                                   a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India. It has
                                                     now has evolved to incorporate subject matter expert exchanges,
        The B-1B carries the largest conventional pay-  air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises, in
        load of guided and unguided weapons in the  addition to fighter-training exercises.
        22 |  APRIL-MAY 2023                                                                WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT
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